Tuesday 1st November 85th Anniversary Dinner in Loch Green
John Ewing, Niven Rennie, Marjory Ewing, President Harry Peters, Joan Peters
At Loch Green Hotel on Tuesday 1st November, the Rotary Club of Ayr held an 85th Anniversary Dinner of the Club’s formation. 80 people, Rotarians and their partners, enjoyed excellent fare with an thoroughly entertaining after dinner speech, delivered by Niven Rennie. Also, during the evening the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award for outstanding service to the community was presented to Rev Fraser Aitken and Rotarian Alistair Tyre.
In December 1929, the Founder President of Hamilton Rotary Club, and at that time District Governor, Rev. T. F. Harkness Graham, Minister at Cadzow Parish Church, Hamilton, wrote to Rev. W Phin Gillison, Minister at Ayr Auld Kirk, suggesting the formation of a Rotary Club of Ayr. A meeting was arranged at the Station Hotel, Ayr, when the two ministers and two Hamilton Club Members met with six Ayr gentlemen with this object in mind.
Rev Fraser Aitken with President Harry
At first there was no enthusiasm expressed by the Ayr group, but at a later meeting with the same people in the summer of 1930, it was decided to embark on the formation of a Rotary Club of Ayr.
The first of a series of meetings of potential members was held on 9th December, 1930, and a Formation Committee, under the Chairmanship of Rev. Phin Gillison was set up, meeting in the offices of Messrs Kilpatrick & Wilson, Solicitors. Mr P. P. Lyon, who was the senior partner, was appointed as Honorary Secretary of the proposed club and did most of the work to establish the Club.
The nucleus of the Club, together with a few of those concerned with the formation, met in Gilchrist’s Restaurant in Boswell Park, Ayr until the official formation meeting on 18th May, 1931.
Alistair Tyre receives his award from Pres. Harry Peters
Although the date on the Charter No. 3468 was 14th July, 1931, it was not presented until 28th September, 1931, at a dinner in the Station Hotel, by the Chairman of the Scottish District Council, Rotarian William Risk, on behalf of Rotary International.
Today, it is fair to say the Station Hotel has seen better days, however, the Rotary Club of Ayr ,the largest in their District, is still thriving with 50 members made up of both men and women.
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